Kelly P.
Google
This place was not for me.
I'm not saying that as some square - I'm into changing up the typical dining experience, and I love trying authentic, un-americanized food.
The service can probably be described as "traditional," but it came off somewhat rude. I feel as though there should have probably been a quick "Hey ya'll, we don't have menus, you get what we want to feed you, and don't ask for butter, you will eat your bread with oil and vinegar. K?"
No dice.
Although they began seating us near the entry way and were accommodating when we asked to be seated where it may be just a touch warmer.
That's fine, one of the things our group was briefed on in the Uber over was the fact that this place brings you 5 courses of food, and that it's traditional Northern Italian style. That was all I needed to hear to be IN on a cold, winter night.
I see a lot of negative reviews talk to the fact that the interior is , and hasn't modernized over the years since the 1920's. This, to me, gave it a really genuine feel. It's cozy, and was tactfully decorated for the holidays with strings of lights and an abundance of nutcrackers - really classic. The location (no sign, in the bottom floor of a brownstone) was quaint and homey.
The way they presented the courses was thoughtful and out of the ordinary, but the food itself was disappointing; it may have been the first time I've left an Italian restaurant still hungry.
After the bread, our waiter brought out a wild assortment of vegetables in a basket - carrots, radishes, celery - way more than our party of 6 could have eaten - not sure if they recycle the leftovers for...whenever. I hope they don't waste them, but I also hope I didn't nom on a radish that had others fingerprints all over them.
With the veggies came thin sliced salami and a canned tuna antipasti. Not bad, to be honest.
They brought out a codfish dish next, that was not tasty. It had no seasoning, and even lemon couldn't give a fresh twist to this dish. I am a fish eater - this wasn't a "gross, I don't like fish," it's a "gross, this just isn't good fish."
The lasagna course was decent. It was not your expected lasagna, which is OK with me.
The chicken and pork was dry. The mushrooms that came on the side I actually really liked, so that's what I ate off my plate for this round.
Dessert included what tasted to me like a mild provolone (nice!), another basket - this time filled with fresh fruit (same thoughts as the veggie basket - this is more than we could ever eat, where is it ending up?), fried crostini (didn't try these, but my mom was left so hungry she nearly hoovered the entire plate in 10 seconds flat. Poor mama. And a lemon curd fritter for each guest. Lemon curd was good, coffee was good, cheese was good, fruit was fresh. Dessert was good.
I think they have the makings to be great, without sacrificing all the traditional feels, techniques and styles. Just my thoughts. I wouldn't recommend to friends and family visiting, personally. I was aware of the price per plate prior to coming, and it just isn't worth that kind of money.
